Arriving by plane to Kerala, on the southwest coast of India. It is amazing how different the atmosphere is down here in the south, with lush greenery, palm trees and tropical humidity. Kerala is a communist state, with literacy rates and per capita income well above the national average. As an outsider, this relative wealth is highly visible, with significantly reduced levels of beggars, rubbish and cows. The train stations even have trash bins, with signs that say “use me”. Gone are the open sewers and the smell of dump. Gone are also the turbans, the elaborate mustaches, the bright colors of the saris and the spectacular forts. The saris are still around, but with more subtle colors and a larger proportion of women are wearing western clothes. The architecture appears more Mediterranean, due to the Portugese influence, and the pace of life is more relaxed and laid-back. The heat is also more pressing and shortly after stepping off the plane I was soaked in sweat.
I literally just passed through Fort Cochin, which is famous for its large Chinese fishing nets that are lining the north shore of the town. There is also a small fish market, where you can buy your fish and then have it cooked at any of the small ramshackle stalls nearby.
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